Geraldine Marie "Geri" Baxter

Geraldine “Geri” Marie (nee Allen) Baxter age 85, passed away August 30, 2017 at home surrounded by her loving family. Geri was born March 29, 1932 and family was everything to her.

Geri lived a full and active life. She was born in Joliet and attended Lockport Township High School. She worked as a greeting card artist and created many paintings and sketches throughout her life. Geri worked so many places over the years: Lockport Texaco Credit Union, Ann’s Laundromat in Lockport, numerous banks, and The Lockport Shopper. She raised her family in Lockport since 1961 and moved back to Joliet in 1999. A longtime member of the First United Methodist Church of Lockport, she was also a Girl Scout leader, Sunday school teacher and loved to sing.

Geraldine is survived by her beloved husband, Bruce; daughters Patricia (Allen) Mitchell, Dr. Kathleen Baxter, and Cynthia (Scott) Maki; grandchildren, Amy (Chris) Sybrandy, Cody, Colt and Amanda Eriksen; her first great grandchild due to be born in January and her four younger brothers, Tom (Georgia) Allen, Charles (Marla) Allen, Fred, Jr. Allen, and Stanley (Carol) Allen. She also communicated often with her many friends, nieces, nephews, cousins, and grand nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Gwendolyn Allen; parents-in-law, James and Gladys Baxter, Marla Allen; granddaughter, Taylor Michelle; livelong friends, Mac and Dorothy McCarthy whom they loved to play cards with and laugh a lot and Dorothy LeRoy, who was like a sister to her.

A special thanks to Joliet Area Hospice and her caregiver, Krystyna Zawadzka. Geri wished her passing to be a celebration of her life. She asked that no one wear black to her wake and funeral.

Funeral services for Geraldine “Geri” Marie Baxter will be Saturday, September 2, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet. Interment will be in Woodlawn Memorial Park Mausoleum. Geri’s wishes for donations are to the Lockport United Methodist Church, Midwest Schipperke Rescue or Joliet Area Hospice or charity of your choosing. Visitation will be Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services. For more information, please call 815-741-5500 or visit her Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com